Use correct subject-verb agreement in sentences.
🚀 Subject-verb agreement is an important grammar rule that helps sentences make sense. It means that the subject of a sentence (who or what the sentence is about) must agree with the verb (the action word) in number. This means that if the subject is singular (one), the verb must also be singular. If the subject is plural (more than one), the verb must be plural. For example, in the sentence 'The cat runs,' 'cat' is singular, so we use the singular verb 'runs.' In contrast, in the sentence 'The cats run,' 'cats' is plural, so we use the plural verb 'run.' Understanding subject-verb agreement helps make our writing clear and correct.
Key Points
- 🎯 The subject and verb must agree in number: singular subjects take singular verbs, and plural subjects take plural verbs.
- 🎯 When using 'I' or 'you,' the verb form is always singular, even if it refers to more than one person.
- 🎯 Collective nouns (like 'team' or 'group') can be singular or plural depending on whether the group acts as one unit or as individuals.
- 🎯 Words like 'everyone,' 'someone,' and 'nobody' are singular and take singular verbs.
Examples:💡
The dog barks loudly.
Here, 'dog' is singular, so the verb 'barks' is also singular.
The children play in the park.
In this sentence, 'children' is plural, so we use the plural verb 'play.'
Everyone loves to read books.
'Everyone' is a singular subject, so we use the singular verb 'loves.'
The team is winning the game.
'Team' is a collective noun treated as singular here, so we use the singular verb 'is.'
Common Mistakes
- Using a plural verb with a singular subject, such as saying 'The cat run away' instead of 'The cat runs away.'
- Forgetting that collective nouns can be singular, like saying 'The team are playing well' instead of 'The team is playing well.'
- Using the wrong verb form with 'I' or 'you,' such as saying 'I goes to school' instead of 'I go to school.'